ACS CAN New York Legislative Ambassador Homepage
New Ambassadors: Welcome to the ACS CAN Team!
Here you will find all the information you'll need to be successful in your volunteer role, whether you've been here for five days or five years!
To get you started here are some actions you can take:
- Watch our 13 minute webinar on the roles and responsibilities of ACS CAN ambassadors. You may have viewed this as part of your orientation, this is here as a refresher for those that would like it.
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Review our 2024 ACS CAN Legislative Priorities
New York State Priorities
New York City Priorities
Federal Priorities
Volunteer Roles at ACS CAN
Below are materials that explain the various volunteer roles at ACS CAN
Legislative Ambassador Guidebook
Below is the generic (non-congressional district focused) version of the Legislative Ambassador Guidebook. The Guidebook is intended to be a resource for Legislative Ambassadors as they learn and grow into their new volunteer role. New Legislative Ambassdors will review the Guidebook with their ACT! Lead as part of their ACS CAN training. Please feel free to review the Guidebook before your training. However, we caution you that without the context of the training, the Guidebook may be overwhelming.
Full Legislative Ambassador Guidebook
Guidebook by the Section:
Important information for all current ambassadors
ACS CAN Volunteer Job Descriptions
ACS CAN Legislative Ambassador Interest Form
ACS CAN Informational Sheet
ACS CAN Membership form or become a member here
ACS CAN Volunteer Fundraising Page
Additional Ambassador Resources:
Relay For Life Resources
College and Youth Relay For Life Resources
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Resources
For more information if you are in New York City, contact [email protected] or Upstate [email protected].
Record your actions!
When you take an action i.e. send an email to a lawmaker, make a phone call, do a drop by, meet with a lawmaker, etc., please log all of these ACS CAN activities in this report back form! This is our way of measuring the impact our volunteers can make.
Campaign work is a large part of what we do at
ACS CAN!
2024 New York State Campaigns
- Cancer Services Program
- Tobacco Control Program
- Medical Debt
- Family Paid Leave
- Lung Cancer Screening
2024 New York City Menthol Campaign
We are working to end the sale of menthol cigarettes in NYC. Check here for updates on the campaign and how you can make a difference.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is committed to ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent find, treat, and survive cancer. We know that cancer impacts everyone, but it doesn’t impact everyone equally, and that is why diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. ACS CAN is centering the lived experiences and voices of our diverse volunteer leaders through our affinity groups that enhance, strengthen, and diversify communications, messaging, partnerships, policy initiatives, and volunteer outreach, training, and engagement within their communities.
Interested in learning more? Please visit the ACS CAN Affinity Web Site and learn more about who they are, who they represent, and how you can get involved!
One of the ways our volunteers make a BIG impact is to meet with their lawmakers. ACS CAN NY hosts Cancer Action Days to give volunteers the opportunity to meet with their representatives and ask them to make fighting cancer a priority.
Keep an eye out at the beginning of 2025 for information regarding our next Cancer Action Day!
Thank you to those who participated in our 2024 Cancer Action Day, you made it an amazing event.
Fundraising with ACS CAN NY!
Lights of Hope is ACS CAN's premier fundraising event! Every year, Lights of Hope sends an important message to lawmakers that we need their support in the fight against cancer. Lights of Hope is a great way to raise money for ACS CAN and to honor and remember those touched by cancer through a tribute with thousands of lit bags featuring the names of loved ones and their cancer story. Each bag is $10 and raises much needed funds to continue our important work in research and making real policy change for cancer patients and their families. Please consider starting a Lights of Hope Page today! All of the information you need about Lights of Hope and how to get started is located on our Lights of Hope Resource Page.
Join us for a Lights of Hope Event in the Capital District
Becca Oechsner will be hosting an evening of hope and reflection on Thursday, August 15, from 6 - 8 PM at the HopeClub of the Capital Region for a Lights of Hope display. This is a FREE event. Light refreshments will be served. See flyer for details. For anyone who would like to visit the Capital District and bring your Lights to display, RSVP to Becca at [email protected].
The National Silent Auction is coming back!
Please help us raise money and reach our state goal by donating an item for the online silent auction. Item details MUST be submitted to Molly Waite by Wednesday, August 28th. If you have any item you would like to include in the auction, please fill out this form and submit it to [email protected] no later than Wednesday, August 28th. Here is the auction guide that covers all the information needed to know including example items.
The auction will be held online from Wednesday, September 11th – Monday, September 16th.
Fundraising with ACS CAN doesn't have to only be limited to Lights of Hope. You can host ANY fundraiser and Create your own event. Last year one of our youth advocates hosted an ACS CAN Steps Against Cancer 5K race in her hometown. Other fundraisers have included paint and sips, bake sales, silent auctions and so much more.
